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Diana Salazar, director of the Latino Association of Charleston, joined more than a dozen other advocates in asking Sanford to reconsider his promise to sign the bill. Salazar said the bill is unfair and unnecessarily burdens small businesses.

The bill was given final approval last week after months of political wrangling between the House and Senate. It would require all employers to make sure their employees are in the country legally. It also would ban illegal immigrants from attending public colleges.

Salazar said the bill will hurt the state's tourism-dependent economy. She said amnesty is needed for immigrants who have been here for years and just want to provide for their families.

House Majority Leader Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black lawmaker, tied Obama’s historic White House quest to the 1960s civil rights movement of Martin Luther King Jr. U.S. Rep. John Spratt, of York, compared Obama to Ronald Reagan.

“Over the next several weeks, our party will have an historic opportunity to transcend these (racial) issues that have plagued our nation since its founding,” Clyburn said.

Clyburn said supporters of Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton must put aside their differences over the long, contentious primary process and come together to defeat Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who gained the GOP nomination in March.

Spratt, chairman of the House Budget Committee, compared Obama’s eloquence with that of Ronald Reagan and said “his fresh face and message” is drawing tens of thousands of new voters to the Democratic Party.

The Gamecocks will play:

-- N.C. State at home Aug. 28 (8 p.m.), ESPN

-- at Vanderbilt on Sept. 4 (8:30 p.m.), ESPN

-- Georgia at home Sept. 13 (3:30 p.m.), CBS

“I’m thrilled to death,” Aikens said from the Jesup Federal Correctional Institution Tuesday morning. “I’ve always had hope something would happen with my case.”

The former Kansas City Royals slugger who made history in 1980 by becoming the first player to ever have more than one home run in two games during the same World Series will be transferred to a halfway house in Kansas City on Wednesday.

After spending 90-120 days at that facility, he will be fully released. Upon that date, Aikens said he planned to return to Seneca to visit family and friends.

In 1994, Aikens was sentence to 20 years, eight months for multiple crack, bribery and gun charges. Mandatory sentencing guidelines at that time dictated he serve at least 18 years of the sentence before being considered for parole. Late last year, the guidelines were reviewed and deemed cruel and unusual. In March, Congress approved new guidelines and made them retroactive, allowing as many as 20,000 cases – including Aikens’ – to be reviewed.

Abrams has served as interim dean since January. Last year, Dean Richard Gershon stepped down to teach tax law.

“Andy Abrams, with his vast experience as the General Counsel to the College of Charleston, the Provost of the College, an enormously popular law professor, with a post-graduate degree in law, is exactly the right person to lead the Charleston School of Law as its dean,” said former College of Charleston President Alex Sanders, who chairs the law school’s board of directors. “He was the unanimous choice of the Board, the faculty, and the search committee.”

Abrams is a professor of law at the privately owned law school.

Barnwell attorney Terry E. Richardson Jr., who chaired a search committee for the new dean, said Abrams was the right choice for the school.

The FBI arrested three Midlands men last week on one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud: Joseph Brunson, 46, of Hopkins; Timothy McQueen, 50, of Blythewood; and Tony Pough, 46, of Columbia.

If convicted, each faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.

They are accused of investing very little of the $80 million collected from 7,000 people in the foreign exchange market as promised, court documents said. People were recruited mostly in meetings at churches and military bases in 23 states.

Instead, the money was used to pay back some early investors and for the men to buy cars, property, a jet, a motor coach and suites to pro football games, investigators said. About $17 million was frozen in company bank accounts last year.

Wayne Shumpert was the only person to file for the two years remaining on Bobby Vining’s term after Vining was elected mayor, election officials said.

Unless write-in candidates petition for the seat by noon on June 13, Shumpert will be sworn in that day.

By Clif LeBlanc, cleblanc@thestate.com

Family Court Judge George McFaddin of Sumter, hearing the case in Richland County, said the today’s proceeding was not a trial, but just the first step in the prosecutor’s motion to move the case to General Sessions Court.

The prosecutor’s office has moved to put the juvenile on trial for murder as an adult. The court has not yet ruled on that motion.

State law requires that juvenile records be kept confidential and prevents law enforcement officers from identifying minors charged with crimes, unless they are tried as adults.

The 15-year-old boy entered the courtroom in a red prison suit, his hands shackled and attached to a web belt around his waist. Sitting five feet away from him in the spectators’ seats were the shooting victim’s father and other relatives.

In the State House:

Immigration: 11 a.m., The Latino Association is hosting a press conference in the lower lobby of the State House. "We will be asking the governor to veto the Immigration bill," said Diana Salazar, association director.

In the Midlands:

Chapin Town Council: 7 p.m. Town Hall, 103 Columbia Ave.

The self-titled brand will include women's apparel, sleepwear, loungewear, shoes and accessories priced between $38 and $240. It will be initially available at 125 Belk stores and on the company's Web site and will expand to additional locations in spring 2009. Plans also call for extending it to additional categories across the store in the future.

“Kristin is a great fit for Belk,” president and chief merchandising officer McKay Belk said in a news release. “She grew up shopping in our stores and is in tune with the fashion sensibility of our customer base.”

The brand, he said, will offer a modern, feminine style designed to capture Davis' look and personality, providing a selection of clothes and accessories exclusive to Belk. The company aims to make Kristin Davis its leading fashion line across all categories, executive vice president and general merchandise manager John Thomas said.

Davis, who plays Charlotte York in the recently released movie “Sex and the City,” grew up in Columbia. She's scheduled to appear at select Belk locations this fall to promote the line.

Both said Monday that McKown is York County's coroner.

On the same day McKown resumed the coroner's duties, the Attorney General's Office — the same agency that took McKown to court on drug charges — released a written opinion that said McKown could take over his elected post.

The document answers the question York County officials have been asking since McKown was acquitted of felony cocaine charges May 24.

McKown had been suspended from office since July 2006, when he was indicted on two felony cocaine charges. Gov. Mark Sanford appointed Sabrina Gast to the office in September of that year. She was to hold the position until McKown's charges were resolved.

Obama is 37.5 delegates shy of clinching the nomination, but he is widely expected to make up the difference Tuesday with superdelegate support and votes in South Dakota and Montana. Once he reaches the magic number of 2,118, Clinton will acknowledge that he has secured the necessary delegates to be the nominee.

The former first lady will stop short of formally suspending or ending her race in her speech in New York City.

She will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.

Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.

Andy Abrams was unanimously approved for the post by the school's board, faculty and the search committee. He had served as the law school's interim dean since January.

Abrams replaces Richard Gershon, who stepped down last year to return to teaching tax law. Abrams says his immediate goal for the school is to get full accreditation from the American Bar Association.

The 55-year-old Abrams is a law professor at the school. He will be the school's second dean.

Members of the House and Senate Sportsmen's Caucuses say a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would prevent gun control backers from trying to restrict hunting and fishing may die because of specific wording the NRA wants.

The lawmakers say the phrase would ban any future tweaking in hunting and fishing laws that may be needed to preserve species. They say they want to protect the sports while also remaining good stewards of natural resources.

Legislation asking voters if the right to hunt and fish should be guaranteed rights was approved by the House in January. Legislators say opposition by the NRA is preventing a vote on the Senate floor.

If passed, the measure would put the question to voters in November.

“I’m thrilled to death,” Aikens said from the Jesup Federal Correctional Institution Tuesday morning. “I’ve always had hope something would happen with my case.”

The former Kansas City Royals slugger who made history in 1980 by becoming the first player to ever have more than one home run in two games during the same World Series will be transferred to a halfway house in Kansas City on Wednesday.

After spending 90-120 days at that facility, he will be fully released. Upon that date, Aikens said he planned to return to Seneca to visit family and friends.

In 1994, Aikens was sentence to 20 years, eight months for multiple crack, bribery and gun charges. Mandatory sentencing guidelines at that time dictated he serve at least 18 years of the sentence before being considered for parole. Late last year, the guidelines were reviewed and deemed cruel and unusual. In March, Congress approved new guidelines and made them retroactive, allowing as many as 20,000 cases – including Aikens’ – to be reviewed.

Only top-flight soldiers are allowed to enter the school, where tough instructors earn their famous flat-brimmed campaign hats.

The school will graduate up to 120 drill sergeants in four sessions every year.

The new school came about as part of the 2005 base closure and consolidation process. It brings together schools from Fort Jackson, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Fort Benning, Ga.

The major league draft begins and several in-state high school baseball players could receive phone calls from pro teams as early as the first three rounds. Hartsville's Jordan Lyles, who is also considering a college football career, is among the state's top high school pitchers.

Sumter High's Matt Price and Brookland-Cayce left hander Adam Westmoreland are also future Gamecocks who could be drafted.

Clemson recruit Scott Weismann, a right-handed pitcher from Boxborough, Mass., who was the Tigers’ second-best high school prospect, is likely to be chosen during Thursday’s first day.

Current Gamecock Justin Smoak is likely to be among the top 10 picks in Thursday's first round of the draft. Reese Havens and James Darnell should follow over the next few rounds.

Heinz will produce Weight Watchers, Smart Ones and Boston Market brand frozen meals.

The plant will open on a 49-acre site in the Pee Dee Commerce City Park in Florence by mid-2009. The company will use the state’s worker training program.

The woman, 25, of Lexington, was killed on Happy Ridge Drive, four miles east of Lexington, when she was struck by a 1995 Mercury at about 10:05 p.m.

Officers say the woman had been lying in the road and was wearing dark, non-reflective clothing.

The driver, 21, also of Lexington was not injured.

The 76-year-old senator was expected to stay at the North Carolina facility for about a week before returning home to Massachusetts for further treatment.

In the following days, Kennedy will probably be given drugs to prevent brain swelling and seizures, which are possible complications of the surgery. The senator will also be closely watched for bleeding and blood clots, because strokes are also a risk, though they are uncommon.

"After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment," his doctor, Dr. Allan Friedman, said in a statement following Monday's procedure. "I hope that everyone will join us in praying for Sen. Kennedy to have an uneventful and robust recovery."

Doctors gave few details about the surgery, and did not say how much was removed. The procedure lasted about 3 1/2 hours, and when he emerged, a family spokeswoman said he told his wife, Vicki, that he felt "like a million bucks."

Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat and the highest-ranking black lawmaker, had been expected to endorse Obama as the party’s nominee. He has sharply criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton and President Clinton, and his daughter works for the Obama campaign.

“I believe the time has come for all un-pledged delegates to make their choices known, and I believe our best choice against a George Bush third term is Senator Barack Obama.”

Clyburn said he was endorsing Obama before the outcomes of today’s Montana and South Dakota’s primaries are known because their results won’t eliminate Obama’s lead over Hillary Clinton in the total delegate count.

Clyburn noted that Obama will accept the Democratic nomination in Denver at the party’s national convention in August on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” address in Washington.

It’s a decision she’d rather not make, but one she’d find easy if faced with the choice.

“I can do without meat, but I have to have my fresh fruit,” Morton said.

The retired Department of Defense employee is among a growing number of people pondering ways to tighten their budgets as gasoline and other prices continue to rise. Some are clinging to long-held conservative spending practices to make ends meet, while many others are setting spending priorities for the first time.

But those priorities vary widely, and what people are most and least willing to do without is a matter of preference.

He should. The Columbia Fire Department built it specifically for him and seven others who made up “The Eight” — the city’s first paid black firefighters.

“We had a hard time during segregation,” said Coles, 82, the last living member of the group that first came together in 1953. “They didn’t want us in the department.”

“They” were the white firefighters of the day, who did not want to sleep in the same dorms with the black men who were risking their lives just as they were, Coles said.

It would be another 12 years before “The Eight” would be integrated into other firehouses around the city — each assigned to a different station.

A legislative fight this week will affect how much South Carolinians pay at the gas pump.

It could result in as much as an 8-cent-a-gallon increase in some parts of the state.

At issue is a bill pending in the House that would allow S.C. fuel distributors to continue buying unleaded gas from S.C. pipelines and ethanol from the Midwest.

S.C. fuel distributors mix the two together to produce a cleaner-burning fuel, which they sell to motorists. During the last few years, this mixing practice, called “splash blending” has become popular among fuel distributors, looking for ways to offset rising fuel prices.

Christopher Obrien Martin, 40, is being held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Martin, who had been named as a person of interest, was arrested after being brought in for questioning, a Columbia Police Department news release said.

Police responded to shots being fired at a residence on Williams Street at about 6 a.m. Sunday. Zachary C. Gilyard, 41, of Mandell Drive was found shot multiple times. EMS responded but was unable to resuscitate Gilyard.

Staff reports

A hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. today before Judge George McFadden to determine whether the 15-year-old can be tried as an adult, according to the office of 5th Circuit Solicitor Barney Giese.

State law prevents law enforcement from identifying minors charged with crimes, unless they are tried as adults.

Another 15-year-old has been charged with murder in Hart’s death, and prosecutors already had asked that he also be tried as an adult.

Hart was shot once in the head and died at Hillandale Apartments off Fairfield Road, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.

Marijuana accounted for almost two-thirds of those arrests, the study found, with cocaine involved in 29 percent.

Despite the surge, South Carolina still trails the national average in abuse of cocaine, marijuana and pain relievers, the report shows.

During 2005-06, 7.3 percent of South Carolinians used an illegal drug during a month versus the national average of 8.2 percent, the report says.

Nevertheless, the sheer volume of drug arrests was notable, said the report’s editor, DPS statistician Rob McManus.

Listen to Todd and other S.C. voters describe their feelings on the issues and candidates at thestate.com/choosing and look for a new voice every Tuesday.

PHOTOGRAPH BY C. ALUKA BERRY/CABERRY@THESTATE.COM

People caught violating the law — smokers and business owners alike — could face a $500 fine.

Tonight’s vote on the issue will be preceded by a public hearing.

The proposal requires votes of approval at three meetings. The first vote was 7-2, with no debate.

Sponsor Joe McEachern characterized the county’s proposal as a “complete smoking ban” with just four exemptions: private homes, designated hotel rooms, tobacco stores and religious ceremonies.

Rob Miller, a former Marine Corps captain who fought in Iraq, and Blaine Lotz, a retired Air Force intelligence colonel who tracked enemy fire in Vietnam, exemplify a nationwide Democratic strategy of tabbing military veterans to help expand the congressional majority the party gained in 2006.

The 2nd Congressional District, which hasn’t sent a Democrat to Congress since 1965, embraces all or parts of 10 counties from the Midlands and along the Georgia border to Beaufort, Hilton Head and other coastal areas.

While Democratic operatives in Washington admit picking up the 2nd District seat is an uphill climb, they say it’s in play during a tumultuous — and possibly historic — presidential election year.

“We’re keeping a close eye on that district,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “It’s on our radar screen.”

The national average has hit another high at $3.98 a gallon — nearly 20 cents more than the Palmetto State, according to AAA data.

South Carolina’s average of $3.79 a gallon is a half-cent lower than the next highest state, Missouri. A dozen states and Washington, D.C., are averaging more than $4 a gallon.

Staff reports

Exactly how the new, $550,000 program will work — and its repercussions on the coming year’s budget — remained unclear at 11 p.m. as the council’s budget meeting extended into a sixth hour.

The effect of dozens of last-minute changes to the 2008-09 budget won’t shake out for a few days. The council is scheduled to finalize the budget June 12.

Efforts to avoid a property-tax increase were rebuffed early in the evening.

Instead, the 11-member council turned back a five-year-old agreement that money coming in from a tax on restaurant meals should be spent on big programs to attract tourists.

If the retired electrical engineer who worked at the Celanese textile plant for decades ever wanted to take a long motorcycle trip, now was the time.

But this was no trip like others he has taken over the past few years. This was a voyage. Across the country, and back, alone.

“He had to do this,” said Marilyn Roche, his wife of 39 years.

It started at 10 a.m. April 17. Roche (pronounced Ro-shay) pulled out of his Rock Hill driveway wearing his black leathers with three bags piled on the back of his 2001 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, and a pile of Internet maps.

Chief Justice Jean Toal also said the vetoes of $6.3 million to aid in indigent defense will increase the likelihood of appeals and saddle taxpayers with more spending to keep poor defendants in jails waiting for trials.

“The reasoning is not something I can understand,” Toal told The Associated Press as the governor finished a campaign in North Augusta and Greer to convince people that lawmakers should uphold the $72 million he vetoed from a proposed $7 billion spending plan last week.

Legislators are expected to consider whether to override some of his budget vetoes today.

Sanford has said his vetoes free money needed for prison and school bus fuel costs. He also argues they would level the playing field with prosecutors who are suffering budget cuts.

Hedgepath had been in his post since 1991. He had served in the Friendly Fire Department and 10 years in the S.C. National Guard, his obituary said.

— Lee Higgins

Founders Boulevard, 100 block: A man called police at 10 a.m. Friday trying to get $1,250 worth of watches from the county jail. The man told police another man and his girlfriend had stopped by his house Thursday and, while there, the visiting man was admiring his watch collection. When the couple left, the 63-year-old resident noticed three of his watches were missing. He said the visiting man’s girlfriend called him the next day to tell him her boyfriend had stolen his watches, but he got arrested on the way home from the resident’s house. The jewelry was inventoried into the jailed man’s property, which was being kept at the jail, a report said.

Fernandina Road, 3000 block: A woman called police at 6 p.m. Friday and said a man was harassing her. She said the man called her incessantly and had even started trying to get into her home. She said he was banging on her door and threatening her with physical harm if she didn’t let him in. She refused, and he got mad and began to threaten her further. He told her if she didn’t let him in, he would kill her. She called police, but the man had left when officers arrived.

RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF

Camino Court, 4200 block: A woman called police at 2:30 a.m. Sunday to complain about another woman harassing her by phone. The woman said the caller would call her over and over and then send her text messages. She said the caller wasn’t trying to hide her identity, as she appeared on the complaining woman’s Caller ID device.

House members today consider overriding Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of a budget item that allows dispensing of certain prescriptions without preapproval by the Health and Human Services Department.

The veto means Medicaid would pay less for drugs, but physicians and health care advocates say that strategy is penny-wise and pound foolish.

While waiting for a drug to be preapproved, a patient could have a lapse in treatment, which could make the person ill and land him or her in a hospital.

“This is not only traumatic for the patient, but also extremely expensive for the state and society,” said Dr. James G. Bouknight, a geriatric psychiatrist at USC School of Medicine.

Police in Conway have filed charges against three Myrtle Beach teens in connection with the fatal shooting of a Coastal Carolina University student.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports that 18-year-old Keion M. Griffin, 17-year-old Demario Stukes and a 16-year-old were arrested on charges related to the May 25 slaying of 20-year-old Corey Brooks.

The three were arrested throughout the afternoon and evening Friday in Myrtle Beach without incident, Police Capt. David Knipes said.

Griffin and Stukes are charged with murder in the shooting, which allegedly resulted from a dispute over a parking space.

A man and two teenage boys were found safe after their planned kayak trip on the Chattooga River was disrupted by an accident.

Rescue crews Sunday found 53-year-old Stephen Yang, his 15-year-old son Sam Yang and 16-year-old Abraham Lin in good condition, Oconee County emergency services director Rodney Burdette told WSPA-TV in Spartanburg.

Burdette said the three went out on the Chattooga River on Saturday afternoon on an inflated kayak when they encountered low water levels and decided to carry the kayak across some rocks. Stephen Yang slipped, and Lin went to get help, only to get lost. He found a spot offshore where he used the kayak as shelter for the night.

Stephen Yang was transported to Oconee Memorial Hospital, where he was suffering from bruised ribs.

The Army is consolidating its three drill sergeant schools at Fort Jackson, and the new building will house the headquarters, classrooms, dining facility and barracks. Construction begins in August, and the new school should be completed by 2011. The barracks will be built later.

Each new class of drill sergeants will have 120 candidates, and classes will be staggered in four sessions.

The consolidation is a result of the 2005 base closings.

From staff reports

The best-selling author and spiritual teacher is defending “The Love Guru,” a comedy in which Myers plays an aspiring self-help guru who aims to achieve Chopra’s level of popularity. Chopra posted an essay online in response to those in the Hindu community who say “The Love Guru” is offensive and mocks important tenets of their faith.

“The premature outcry against the movie is itself religious propaganda,” Chopra writes, noting that the protesters based their views on the film’s 2½-minute trailer. “As viewers will find out when the movie is released this summer, no one is more thoroughly skewered in it than I am — you could even say that I am made to seem preposterous.”

Chopra, who makes a cameo appearance in the film, said he and Myers have been friends for 15 years. Myers wrote the foreword to Chopra’s latest book, “Why is God Laughing?” — which explores the relationship between comedy and spirituality.

Chopra inadvertently inspired “The Love Guru.” During a period of depression, Myers discovered Chopra’s books and videos and began imitating his accent, Chopra said. Myers tried out his new character in New York comedy clubs and began to write the film.

1941: Baseball’s “Iron Horse,” Lou Gehrig, died in New York of a degenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; he was 37.

1946: Italy held a referendum that resulted in the Italian monarchy being abolished in favor of a republic.

1953: Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was crowned in Westminster Abbey, 16 months after the death of her father, King George VI.

1966: The U.S. space probe Surveyor 1 landed on the moon and began transmitting detailed photographs of the lunar surface.

The Jackson School site debate is ongoing after nearly two years of discussions about whether to remodel the current facility or build a new one, where to build, and what to call the school.

Possibilities for alternative locations for the school include a site in east Camden on U.S. 1; property near Interstate 20, exit 98 on U.S. 521; and even the current Camden Middle School on U.S. 521.

The board will meet to discuss the sites at 6 p.m. at the District Office, 1301 DuBose Court, Camden.

Staff reports

The Jackson School site debate is ongoing after close to two years of discussions about whether to re-model the current facility or build a new one, where to build and what to call the school.

Possibilities for alternative locations for the school include a site in East Camden on U.S. 1, property near Interstate 20, exit 98 on U.S. 521 and even the current Camden Middle School on U.S. 521.

The board will meet to discuss the sites at 6 p.m. at the District Office, 1301 DuBose Court, Camden.

— Marjorie Riddle, mriddle@thestate.com

While dozens of principals and district administrators will try to attract teachers to their schools during the 2008 Teacher Expo, State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex will talk with them about working in the state’s Palmetto Priority Schools.

Those 16 schools, which have an average poverty rate of 93 percent, have not met long-term student learning goals mandated in South Carolina’s Education Accountability Act. Under EAA guidelines, all of them faced a possible state takeover in 2007. Instead, Rex created and the State Board of Education approved a long-term collaboration called the Palmetto Priority Schools project.

The 16 schools are Ridgeland Middle School (Jasper County); Brentwood Middle School, Burke High School, North Charleston High School and Stall High School (Charleston County); Mt. Pleasant Middle School (Lee County); Whitlock Jr. High School (Spartanburg District 7); Johnson Middle School (Florence District 4); Estill Middle and Estill High schools (Hampton District 2); Alcorn Middle School, C.A. Johnson High, Eau Claire High, Gibbes Middle and W.A. Perry Middle schools (Richland District 1); and Allendale Middle School (Allendale County).

Each school is represented in the collaborative’s leadership team by its principal, the district superintendent and district school board chair. State Department of Education leadership team members include Rex, project coordinator David Rawlinson and liaisons assigned to each of the 16 schools. The group meets together regularly.

Hayden said Friday an investigative report prepared by his office has been turned over to the 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office — which covers Orangeburg County where the university is located — for review.

Hayden declined to discuss specifics of the report, saying only his office conducted an investigation into “allegations of misuse of public funds,” and that it primarily involved the university’s finance department.

Efforts to reach university officials or prosecutors have been unsuccessful.

— Rick Brundrett

McEachern, chairman of the Richland County Council, admits he unwittingly took contributions from voucher advocates when he ran unsuccessfully for the state House in 2006. But McEachern pledges not to take their money again and says he remains opposed to vouchers.

McEachern says Carson is drumming up the 2-year-old issue to distract attention from his political inexperience.

Carson, McEachern and a third Democrat, Benjamin Byrd, will face off in the June 10 primary to represent District 77. One of the state’s most diverse, the district represents north Columbia and parts of northeast and northwest Richland County.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face one of two Republicans — Michael Kosta or John Rust — in November to succeed longtime incumbent John Scott, who is running for the state Senate.

District officials are starting discussions now with teachers, parents and students to gauge interest in a single-gender program, which would be tested in the first year at Blaney Elementary and Camden Middle and, possibly, expanded after that.

The school district hopes to make a decision by spring of 2009 on whether to move forward and which grades should be part of the pilot program.

“We’re big supporters in trying to find innovative ways to meet the needs of students,” said Agnes Slayman, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Adopting a single-gender program would not require additional money, she said. But school board members would have to approve it.

A Charleston Post and Courier analysis found that state legislators have moved nearly $2 million in the past three years through the schools.

Among them, Democratic Rep. David Mack of Charleston has sent $700,000 through South Carolina State University to a nonprofit organization where he works and receives money.

Mack said he does consulting work for the Columbia-based Palmetto Center for Advocacy and previously served as the group’s interim director. But he declined to disclose how much he has earned from the nonprofit.

Mack wasn’t alone in moving money to nonprofits. In total, the Post and Courier found that lawmakers had funneled money through five of the state’s largest seven public universities. They did so by taking money from the state budget and tucking it into university budgets. The schools then hand the money to the charity.

“For all of the bickering and fighting and naysayers, I think we’re going to look back and realize we’ve had a good session,” said Rep. Jim Merrill, House Majority Leader.

Those Republican triumphs include an immigration reform bill that Gov. Mark Sanford says he’ll sign into law. The bill topped House Republican’s “to do” list this year.

Other successes include revisions to the state’s standardized test, PACT, which are headed for the governor’s desk, and a solid budget, Merrill said.

Next week, Merrill says the House will continue tackling Sanford’s vetoes. But he declined to comment on which ones he’d like to see overturned.